Why Boston MUST be a leader in closing the wage gap

According to a recent report from the city’s Women’s Workforce Council, women who work in Boston make 85 cents for every dollar a man makes, yet they come to the table with the same level of intelligence, education and commitment as men.  Women do the same work and have the same qualifications.   A recent story on WBUR highlighted an initiative created by Mayor Menino, established to be the leader in closing the wage gap between men and women.

This is an important story about equity, but also about values.  In contemporary society, could there possibly be a legitimate rationale for valuing men more than women?  Why aren't women fairly and equally compensated for their work and contributions?  I sure hope that my institution takes a good look at Mayor Menino's efforts and takes the lead for academic institutions in Boston.

http://www.wbur.org/2013/11/26/boston-women-pay-equity-push

Integrating creativity into your work and life

A friend shared the following post which offers some very interesting food for thought for those of us trying to be more creative and reach our full potential. 

Take a look......

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1671921/3-paths-toward-a-more-creative-life

Students in my Civic Innovation & Community Engagement course talk about a worthy class assignment

One critical aspect of the Master's Degree in Public Administration experience is tackling the real challenges of community engagement in government decision making.  Many of our graduate students are professionals working in a variety of public service positions.  For the majority of students, they view the idea of participation in public policy decision making from their lens as a professional.  In my Civic Innovation and Effective Governance course, I challenge them to take on the role of a community member and attend some type of public meeting.  The objective is for these professionals to see and experience participation from a different vantage point.

In their own words, they reflect on their experiences:

"Since moving to Framingham about a year and a half ago, this was the first time I had attended a public meeting regarding municipal services.  The process gave me a positive feeling about the way citizens are able to participate in local government.  The process was open and transparent, and the citizens who attended the meeting were engaged and able to offer their input.  I would like to become more involved in local politics and policy, and will plan to attend public meetings having to do with other topics, and I am also interested in running for Town Meeting."

"I attended the weekly community meeting that is held at City Hall in Boston, and the end result I consider myself to be very fortunate to have had the experience. Not only did I get to see the Ianella chambers, the very place where important issues in Boston are resolved, for the first time, but I was also brought up to speed on some important developments that are taking place in Boston as I am writing this paper."

"Residents who attended seemed fully engaged and invested in their community.  I think it was a perfect example of how to do things right in municipal government.  I also thought it was a very eye opening experience to be in the audience for once. To watch the facial expressions of the residents and hear how they responded to the town's ideas."

"For my meeting I went to the North End/Waterfront Residents' Association meeting. The organization is one of many such groups across the city that are considered advisory groups for the city to gauge residents views on local zoning, licensing and other neighborhood issues or concerns. The meeting was interesting and at the end of the night I signed up to be a member.  I've lived in the North End for five years, and worked in the area for eight years.  At first it was unappealing, with all the trash and restaurants and tourists. But after living here for so long, I've come to like it and I have a desire to get more involved to help the North End keep its appeal for future generations."

"The Subcommittee on Student Loan and Debt (chaired by Senator Eileen Donoghue) held a Student Listening Tour at Suffolk on October 21st, to receive critical input from students, administrators and education leaders. On a whim, I had signed in and indicated that I would speak. I nervously shared that I was making a mid-career change by pursuing a Master's in Public Administration.  I shared the anxiety of paying my loans while funding my daughter's education.  I believed that I was not alone in this situation and encouraged the subcommittee to not only consider the plight of undergraduate students but also the graduate students."

My fantastic Research Team

This year I am grateful to have such a fantastic team of graduate students working with me.  Here is my team working at the Lowell Library, scouring through 25 years worth of data on micro-film!

Angela is a graduate student from California, at Suffolk to get a joint degree in Public Administration and Law.  Brian is a graduate student from Massachusetts and is enrolled in the joint Master's in Public Administration and Criminal Justice, and Shaunessy is here from St. Louis as a student in the joint MPA and Master's in Political Science program.  Talk about an ambitious group! 

Job Opening: Leadership, Organizing and Action (LOA) Teaching Initiative Coordinator

About LOA Teaching Initiative, a project of Leading Change Network
Growing interest in education in civic engagement in colleges and universities across the US creates an opportunity to share pedagogy in leadership, organizing and action developed by Marshall Ganz (Harvard Kennedy School) and his colleagues. Taught at Harvard University, UMass Amherst, Wellesley College, Providence College, College of the Holy Cross, and Syracuse University, this approach can support students in learning civic skills through real-time, project-oriented reflective practice. This initiative is supported by the Leading Change Network (LCN), a collaborative of organizers, educators, and researchers (leadingchangenetwork.com)

Compensation: We are seeking a commitment of 15 hours/week through the end of 2014, to start January 2014, and with a stipend of $25,000. The Teaching Initiative Coordinator will work with LCN leadership on sustainable long-term funding to enable this one-year contract position to be viable into the future.

How to apply: Please submit resume and cover letter to maryhannahhenderson@gmail.com. Deadline: December 11, 2013

Thank you,
Marshall Ganz

Senior Lecturer in Public Policy

Webinar on evaluating organizational change in law enforcement

I've mentioned previously that I recently facilitated two webinars on organizational change for the Bureau of Justice Assistance through their Smart Policing Initiative.  Here is the link to the most recent webinar.


http://www.smartpolicinginitiative.com/tta/strategies-measuring-organizational-change-webinar-october-2013

A good idea when you are presenting something important

 Conducting an effective presentation can be a challenge when time is limited and there is much to say.  My own approach to presentations is still a work-in-progress, that's why I appreciate various tips on how to make a good presentation.  Check out the piece in the Brainiac blog on presenting your data!


http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/brainiac/2013/11/if_you_want_peo.html

Privatization of police...not that unheard of.....

http://www.npr.org/2013/11/15/245213687/with-robberies-up-oakland-residents-turn-to-private-cops

New Study on crime and social networks

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/11/15/245458444/study-odds-of-being-murdered-closely-tied-to-social-networks

Sharing an article in the Lowell Sun about the positive discussions relative to the Lowell Police Department staffing challenges.


http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_24537304/lowell-council-backs-plan-put-more-officers-streets

IPS Women in Public Service Meeting

Don't forget we are having a Women in Public Service meeting on Monday at 6:15pm in 1008.  Hope you can join us...but don't fret if you cannot, we will meet again!

Massachusetts Conference for Women

Check out the agenda for the upcoming Massachusetts Conference for Women to be held on December 5th.

http://www.maconferenceforwomen.org/

You will also find a number of interesting videos and podcasts on the website.

http://www.maconferenceforwomen.org/podcasts/

Spring 2014 classes

For those of your interested in spring courses being offered in the Institute for Public Service at Suffolk University, I am teaching the following graduate courses:

Seminar in Public Safety
Grantwriting
Strategic Human Resource Management in Public Service

BJA's Smart Policing Initiative

Check out BJA's Smart Policing website
http://www.smartpolicinginitiative.com/


I recently facilitated two webinars for the SPI community and many others.  One was focused on organizational change, and the second examined various ways to evaluate organizational change- check them out

http://www.smartpolicinginitiative.com/tta/webinars